Facts About Tinnitus Relief

Are you searching for tinnitus relief? Do you have ringing, buzzing, or whistling in your ears? Do you lay down at night and suddenly hear a humming sound? If so, you may be one of 50 million Americans experiencing tinnitus. The sounds you are hearing are actually not coming from your ears at all. They are coming from your brain! 

Causes of Tinnitus

There are over 200 potential causes of tinnitus, but what it boils down to is something wrong within the auditory system. Most commonly, tinnitus is attributed to a sensorineural hearing loss, or a hearing loss resulting from damage to the hair cells in the inner ear.  When we have hearing loss, our brains are not getting the level of auditory stimulation they crave. They can start to make up their own noises to fill in the gaps. Those noises are the resulting tinnitus! Other causes include acute stress, caffeine intake, various prescription and over-the-counter medications, and disordered sleep.

Types of Tinnitus

Tinnitus comes in a variety of forms. Some people may hear ringing while others might experience buzzing, whistling, whirring, rustling, ocean waves, or even crickets! Tinnitus can be constant, or it can come and go. Some individuals experience tinnitus all day long while others only experience it at night or in a quiet room. However you experience your tinnitus, it is important to discuss your symptoms with your hearing care professional.  

Tinnitus Relief

While there is no “cure” for tinnitus at this time, there are certainly things that can give you some tinnitus relief and can help to reduce your tinnitus. Using a fan or a white noise maker while you are in a quiet room can help mask the tinnitus and keep you from focusing on it. Lifestyle changes such as exercising and reducing caffeine intake may also have a positive impact on tinnitus.

Did you know that many hearing aids have tinnitus maskers built in to help reduce the tinnitus while also correcting your hearing? In fact, many patients report a significant reduction of their tinnitus simply by wearing their prescribed hearing aids. Contact your hearing care professionals at Levine Hearing so we can help you come up with a treatment plan that best meets your specific needs. 

February 1-7 is Tinnitus Awareness Week! Let’s work together to help spread awareness about tinnitus relief. If you or someone you know experiences tinnitus, call us at 704-540-3081 to schedule an appointment and see how we can help! 

“It was in my undergraduate years that I realized my passion for bringing the gift of sound to those who felt isolated and without hope. It is my philosophy that each patient leaves every appointment feeling as though they have a better understanding of the problem we are tackling together, and they have hope for positive outcomes.” – Eileen Clark, Audiologist